Page 52 of Obliterated
Tass goes quiet for a beat, like she’s weighing the truth against something more dangerous.
“It’s just… everything ismore,” she says eventually. “The sky looks brighter. Every sound feels like it’s inside your skull. Your skin itches, but not from the rain. It’s from wanting. Craving. Like something’s pushing at your bones from the inside, trying to get out.” She keeps walking, voice low. “And the hunger? It goes unhinged. You want to take. Rip the world open and drink it. Let it all consume you until you forget your name, your memories, your grief. Until you stop existing and just feel. All that matters is the next taste. The next high. The next scream. The next fuck.”
My voice comes out small. “That sounds like a really good drug.”
Tass lets out a short, bitter laugh. “Oh, fuck yes. It’s the best drug you’ll ever take. And the one most likely to eat you alive.”
A silence falls over us as I chew on that, right until her radio crackles the second we step into the harsh lights of the resort.
“—Tass, you copy?”
I snap my gaze to her hip.
Max.His deep voice sounds ragged through the static, but it’shim.
“Tass here.” She lifts the radio and gives me a broad grin. “About time, you fuckface. Someone’s dying to see you.”
I smack her on the strong part of her upper arm, cheeks burning as she cackles.
“Yeah. Same,” he replies, and I swear I fuckingswoon. “I’m almost there. Moving up the north road now. Give me ten.”
“Copy that. Listen, we just got back at his place, so I’m out. Idohave a life, you know?” Tass’s tone is light, teasing.
“Since when?”
A roll of her eyes. “Shut your stupid mouth. Just pay me in sweets. I’m dying for some chocolate.”
“I’ll see what I can do. Thank you, Tass. See you tomorrow. Over ”
Tomorrow. That means he’s spending the night… At least I hope so.
My face couldn’t flush harder if I tried.
“Over,” Tass answers, before shutting the device off.
I can’t stop grinning as she snaps the radio back in place and turns to me. “He’s on his way back… he’ll be here soon,” she says, nodding toward the resort, toward my building. “Go on ahead. I’ll wait until you’re inside before I take my leave. I reallydohave things to do.”
Too fucking happy to complain about the endless babysitting, I throw myself at her. She gives a surprised chuckle, then squeezes me back, quick and fierce, warmth pressed into me like she means it. It leaves me buzzing, lit up in a way I don’t know how to hold.
I imagine it feels a little like a Touched during the rain.
“Thanks for the ice cream,” I blurt when we pull apart. “And, you know… for keeping me from destroying everything in my room.”
“And for keeping you sane while you mope, curse, and smash glasses so hard on the bar, they break,” she adds with a smirk. “Basically, for not letting you go completely feral. Enjoy your evening, Kieran.”
Ecstatic, almost giddy, I bolt upstairs after I say goodbye. It’s my day off, and he couldn’t have picked a better night to come back. The smile tugging at the corners of my mouth doesn’t leave as I hurry down the corridor, skidding into my room.
The sliding door to the balcony is already open, the curtain whipping in the night breeze.
He’s here.
The grin is fully out now—slightly unhinged, probably—as I leave the lights off, pass the little bathroom and aim for thebalcony, expecting to find him there, lounging, staring at the moon, smoke curling from his fingers like a promise.
My feet hit the threshold, and I reach for the rail when I don’t see him.
Something jerks me backward so hard I lose my breath.
One moment I’m moving forward, the next I’m face-first on my bed, the comforter cutting across my cheek as I try to fuckingbreathe. A man materializes next to me, a grin like a broken hinge.
